Growing our future: Nestlé is planting 10 million trees in Australia
Reforesting our planet will help to play a critical part in tackling climate change.
We are aiming to plant and grow 10 million trees in Australia, working in partnership with Greening Australia, One Tree Planted and Canopy. That’s the equivalent of one tree grown for every current household in Australia1. We’re on our way, with more than a million trees planted already.
The project is part of Nestlé’s Global Reforestation Program, which aims to plant and grow 200 million trees globally by 2030.
Establishing 10 million trees in Australia, a biodiverse mix of native species, will support our ambition to capture approximately 1.9 million tonnes of CO2 over a 25-year carbon crediting period. In fact, averaged over the project lifetime, this is equivalent to exhaust emissions from more than 22,000 cars2 driving each year.
Under this partnership, the trees will be monitored across 28 years as they reach maturity, delivering long-term environmental and economic benefits.
Working in collaboration with local landholders and communities, the 10 million trees will help restore local biodiversity, improve water quality and enhance degraded soils. Trees will be planted in locations linked to regional areas where we source our raw materials.
Our reforestation initiative is a promising nature-based step on our regeneration journey, as we work to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, outlined in Nestlé’s Net Zero Roadmap.
It’s about more than trees
Restoring biodiversity and habitat
Our hope is that restoring natural habitat and ecosystems will support populations of endangered species such as the Alpine Tree Frog in Victoria’s High Country, the Regent Honeyeater in the NSW Southern Tablelands, and the threatened Leafy Greenhood Orchid in the Gippsland Plains of Victoria.
The importance of soil
Soil may seem like an unlikely hero when you hear about our net zero ambition. But what many people don’t realise is that it plays a unique role in storing carbon from the atmosphere.
Even better, we already have the perfect vehicle to capture carbon and get it into soil – trees! Through the natural process of photosynthesis, trees play a crucial role in removing carbon from the atmosphere and naturally storing it under ground.
Beyond carbon, healthy soil also provides the necessary foundation for tree growth, nutrient availability and water retention.
Protecting waterways and improving water quality
Maintaining water quality and availability is vital for preserving native ecosystems and the biodiversity they support. As trees mature, they can act as natural filters in the landscape, trapping and absorbing pollutants from water run-off and preventing them from entering waterways and impacting aquatic ecosystems.
Additionally, tree roots can help hold soil in place, absorbing excess rainwater, reducing the impact of flood events and stabilising riverbanks to prevent erosion. Trees can also help replenish groundwater stores deep beneath the soil surface.
1 According to ABS Housing Census 2021 data, there were nearly 9.8 million households in Australia. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/housing-census/2021
2 Estimated average based on: Australian Government – Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; A less fuel-efficient car can emit around 3 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.
